Standards of Ethical Conduct for the
Physical Therapist Assistant
HOD S06-09-20-18 [Amended HOD S06-00-13-24; HOD 06-91-06-07; Initial HOD 06-82-04-08] [Standard]
Preamble
The Standards of Ethical Conduct for the Physical Therapist Assistant (Standards of Ethical Conduct) delineate the ethical obligations
of all physical therapist assistants as determined by the House of Delegates of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA). The
Standards of Ethical Conduct provide a foundation for conduct to which all physical therapist assistants shall adhere. Fundamental to the
Standards of Ethical Conduct is the special obligation of physical therapist assistants to enable patients/clients to achieve greater independence, health and wellness, and enhanced quality of life.
No document that delineates ethical standards can address every situation. Physical therapist assistants are encouraged to seek additional
advice or consultation in instances where the guidance of the Standards of Ethical Conduct may not be definitive.
Standards
Standard #1: Physical therapist assistants shall
respect the inherent dignity, and rights, of all
individuals.
1A. Physical therapist assistants shall act in a respectful manner
toward each person regardless of age, gender, race, nationality,
religion, ethnicity, social or economic status, sexual orientation, health condition, or disability.
1B. Physical therapist assistants shall recognize their personal biases and shall not discriminate against others in the provision
of physical therapy services.
Standard #2: Physical therapist assistants shall be
trustworthy and compassionate in addressing the
rights and needs of patients/clients.
2A. Physical therapist assistants shall act in the best interests of
patients/clients over the interests of the physical therapist assistant.
2B. Physical therapist assistants shall provide physical therapy
interventions with compassionate and caring behaviors that
incorporate the individual and cultural differences of patients/clients.
2C. Physical therapist assistants shall provide patients/clients with
information regarding the interventions they provide.
2D. Physical therapist assistants shall protect confidential patient/
client information and, in collaboration with the physical
therapist, may disclose confidential information to appropriate authorities only when allowed or as required by law.
Standard #3: Physical therapist assistants shall make
sound decisions in collaboration with the physical
therapist and within the boundaries established by
laws and regulations.
3A. Physical therapist assistants shall make objective decisions in
the patient’s/client’s best interest in all practice settings.
3B. Physical therapist assistants shall be guided by information
about best practice regarding physical therapy interventions.
3C. Physical therapist assistants shall make decisions based upon
their level of competence and consistent with patient/client
values.
3D. Physical therapist assistants shall not engage in conflicts of
interest that interfere with making sound decisions.
3E. Physical therapist assistants shall provide physical therapy services under the direction and supervision of a physical therapist and shall communicate with the physical therapist when
patient/client status requires modifications to the established
plan of care.
Standard #4: Physical therapist assistants shall dem-
onstrate integrity in their relationships with patients/
clients, families, colleagues, students, other health
care providers, employers, payers, and the public.
4A. Physical therapist assistants shall provide truthful, accurate,
and relevant information and shall not make misleading
representations.
4B. Physical therapist assistants shall not exploit persons over
whom they have supervisory, evaluative or other authority
(eg, patients/clients, students, supervisees, research participants, or employees).
4C. Physical therapist assistants shall discourage misconduct by
health care professionals and report illegal or unethical acts
to the relevant authority, when appropriate.
4D. Physical therapist assistants shall report suspected cases
of abuse involving children or vulnerable adults to the supervising physical therapist and the appropriate authority,
subject to law.
4E. Physical therapist assistants shall not engage in any sexual
relationship with any of their patients/clients, supervisees,
or students.
4F. Physical therapist assistants shall not harass anyone verbally,
physically, emotionally, or sexually.
Standard #7: Physical therapist assistants shall support organizational behaviors and business practices that benefit patients/clients and society.
7A. Physical therapist assistants shall promote work environments
that support ethical and accountable decision-making.
Standard #5: Physical therapist assistants shall fulfill
their legal and ethical obligations.
5A. Physical therapist assistants shall comply with applicable local,
state, and federal laws and regulations.
7C. Physical therapist assistants shall fully disclose any financial interest they have in products or services that they recommend
to patients/clients.
5B. Physical therapist assistants shall support the supervisory role
of the physical therapist to ensure quality care and promote
patient/client safety.
5C. Physical therapist assistants involved in research shall abide by
accepted standards governing protection of research participants.
5D. Physical therapist assistants shall encourage colleagues with
physical, psychological, or substance-related impairments that
may adversely impact their professional responsibilities to seek
assistance or counsel.
5E. Physical therapist assistants who have knowledge that a colleague is unable to perform their professional responsibilities
with reasonable skill and safety shall report this information
to the appropriate authority.
Standard #6: Physical therapist assistants shall
enhance their competence through the lifelong
acquisition and refinement of knowledge, skills,
and abilities.
6A. Physical therapist assistants shall achieve and maintain clinical
competence.
6B. Physical therapist assistants shall engage in lifelong learning
consistent with changes in their roles and responsibilities and
advances in the practice of physical therapy.
6C. Physical therapist assistants shall support practice environments that support career development and lifelong learning.
7B. Physical therapist assistants shall not accept gifts or other considerations that influence or give an appearance of influencing
their decisions.
7D. Physical therapist assistants shall ensure that documentation for their interventions accurately reflects the nature and
extent of the services provided.
7E. Physical therapist assistants shall refrain from employment
arrangements, or other arrangements, that prevent physical therapist assistants from fulfilling ethical obligations to
patients/clients
Standard #8: Physical therapist assistants shall
participate in efforts to meet the health needs of
people locally, nationally, or globally.
8A. Physical therapist assistants shall support organizations
that meet the health needs of people who are economically
disadvantaged, uninsured, and underinsured.
8B. Physical therapist assistants shall advocate for people with
impairments, activity limitations, participation restrictions,
and disabilities in order to promote their participation in
community and society.
8C. Physical therapist assistants shall be responsible stewards
of health care resources by collaborating with physical
therapists in order to avoid overutilization or underutilization of physical therapy services.
8D. Physical therapist assistants shall educate members of the
public about the benefits of physical therapy.